Mischievous BarnacleThe Illustrated Story of the Mischievous Barnacle.
This short story is about a Barnacle that wants very much to be mischievous. It was created with the intention to evoke children's story books as well as science journals. The characters are inspired by my family members and their favourite animals.
The story's original form is in print, using hand drawn images. Following the images of the original layout, I have included text from the respective chapters.
The story's original form is in print, using hand drawn images. Following the images of the original layout, I have included text from the respective chapters.
Chapter 1: Barnacle Origins
The Mischievous Barnacle lives off the coast of the strange Asian country, attached to rock, medium size, close to the bottom of the sea.
Barnacle is abest friend of the indigenous Pink-Yellow Seahorse, possibly a symbiotic relationship. The Pink-Yellow Seahorse has had 50 offspring to date; 10 living,40 deceased, all residing in the local seaweed forest. The seahorse continuesto propagate and does it well.
The Mischievous Barnacle plays a very minor role in the ecosystem and begins to feel dissatisfied. Neighbouring creatures are minimally affected by Barnacle’s presence.
We don’t care. We don’t care. We don’t care.
Barnacle eventually decides to take its natural desire to adhere to surfaces to the extreme – it wants to attach itself to anything and everything, and especially dangerous things. It wants to be MISCHIEVOUS! Seahorse disapproves of Barnacle’s unbecoming actions. He says they are inconsequential and will not truly add value to the self. Even so, Barnacle is obstinate and ventures further and further away from the cove.
This is not who you are!
Bye byes.
The Mischievous Barnacle lives off the coast of the strange Asian country, attached to rock, medium size, close to the bottom of the sea.
Barnacle is abest friend of the indigenous Pink-Yellow Seahorse, possibly a symbiotic relationship. The Pink-Yellow Seahorse has had 50 offspring to date; 10 living,40 deceased, all residing in the local seaweed forest. The seahorse continuesto propagate and does it well.
The Mischievous Barnacle plays a very minor role in the ecosystem and begins to feel dissatisfied. Neighbouring creatures are minimally affected by Barnacle’s presence.
We don’t care. We don’t care. We don’t care.
Barnacle eventually decides to take its natural desire to adhere to surfaces to the extreme – it wants to attach itself to anything and everything, and especially dangerous things. It wants to be MISCHIEVOUS! Seahorse disapproves of Barnacle’s unbecoming actions. He says they are inconsequential and will not truly add value to the self. Even so, Barnacle is obstinate and ventures further and further away from the cove.
This is not who you are!
Bye byes.
Chapter 2: Migration Habits
Water is warmand saline, conditions are optimal. Barnacle has so far attached itself to a rotting piece of wood, a plastic bottle, a teenage red snapper (a childhoodfriend), and a crab.
Barnacle’s Stratagem Plan: Barnacle will surprise host by attaching to most inconvenient location!
Unfortunately,the response is always lukewarm and does not last very long. Barnacle soon begins to fall out of social circles and is not very popular anymore.
Feeling frustrated and sensing a cultural malaise with the ocean, Barnacle travels up brackish water streams, moving further inland. Barnacle is able to adapt to new pH levels quickly by coating its interior with a general slime.
Water is warmand saline, conditions are optimal. Barnacle has so far attached itself to a rotting piece of wood, a plastic bottle, a teenage red snapper (a childhoodfriend), and a crab.
Barnacle’s Stratagem Plan: Barnacle will surprise host by attaching to most inconvenient location!
Unfortunately,the response is always lukewarm and does not last very long. Barnacle soon begins to fall out of social circles and is not very popular anymore.
Feeling frustrated and sensing a cultural malaise with the ocean, Barnacle travels up brackish water streams, moving further inland. Barnacle is able to adapt to new pH levels quickly by coating its interior with a general slime.
Chapter 3: Integrated Species
The freshwater creatures and land animals of the further inland are of a vast variety and many are mischievous. Barnacle is captivated by creatures like the mudskipper and the archerfish, which annoy other creatures and fishermen alike.
The most mischievous animal of them all is the Beetle-Platypus Hybrid (The Animal), capable of holding its breath for extended periods of time. Barnacle aspires to learn the ways of the vigorously mischievous and tries to align itself with The Animal. It becomes a disciple.
The Animal is destructive by nature. A very different form of mischievousness, The Animal mostly destroys other creature’s homes. Most recently it has soiled the nest of the Baby Duck.
Barnacle is made a slave to The Animal’s craft and forced to perform the most unsavory and mundane of tasks. Barnacle also receives no street credit for his participation.
But Barnacle continues to support The Animal, hoping to one day gain independence.
The freshwater creatures and land animals of the further inland are of a vast variety and many are mischievous. Barnacle is captivated by creatures like the mudskipper and the archerfish, which annoy other creatures and fishermen alike.
The most mischievous animal of them all is the Beetle-Platypus Hybrid (The Animal), capable of holding its breath for extended periods of time. Barnacle aspires to learn the ways of the vigorously mischievous and tries to align itself with The Animal. It becomes a disciple.
The Animal is destructive by nature. A very different form of mischievousness, The Animal mostly destroys other creature’s homes. Most recently it has soiled the nest of the Baby Duck.
Barnacle is made a slave to The Animal’s craft and forced to perform the most unsavory and mundane of tasks. Barnacle also receives no street credit for his participation.
But Barnacle continues to support The Animal, hoping to one day gain independence.
Chapter 4: Evolutionary Cycle
The Animal has now destroyed all the homes in the further inland and begins to work its way downstream towards the sea. He plans to attack the local seaweed forest where Seahorse and his growing number of offspring reside. When Barnacle learns of The Animal’s plans, it is finally overcome by the reality of its ill-conceived actions. Barnacle does not want to hurt other creatures anymore, especially not his Seahorse best friend.
Barnacle decides to stop being The Animal’s accomplice, but before returning home finally does something decently mischievous: Barnacle attaches itself to The Animal’s inner thigh.
After The Animal’s inner thighs are sufficiently chaffed and he retreats upstream, unable to be mischievous while sore, Barnacle returns home. The local seaweed forest remains unharmed.
As a treat for turning from life as a deviant, Seahorse allows Barnacle to latch on to his side so that it may experience life amongst the seaweed and as a responsible parent. Barnacle soon realizes that it wants to spawn more baby barnacles too.
Chapter 5: Reaching Sexual Maturity
Eventually, Barnacle produces an army of baby barnacles. In vast numbers, they are able to be truly mischievous and together, they attach themselves to the underside of a boat.
The Animal has now destroyed all the homes in the further inland and begins to work its way downstream towards the sea. He plans to attack the local seaweed forest where Seahorse and his growing number of offspring reside. When Barnacle learns of The Animal’s plans, it is finally overcome by the reality of its ill-conceived actions. Barnacle does not want to hurt other creatures anymore, especially not his Seahorse best friend.
Barnacle decides to stop being The Animal’s accomplice, but before returning home finally does something decently mischievous: Barnacle attaches itself to The Animal’s inner thigh.
After The Animal’s inner thighs are sufficiently chaffed and he retreats upstream, unable to be mischievous while sore, Barnacle returns home. The local seaweed forest remains unharmed.
As a treat for turning from life as a deviant, Seahorse allows Barnacle to latch on to his side so that it may experience life amongst the seaweed and as a responsible parent. Barnacle soon realizes that it wants to spawn more baby barnacles too.
Chapter 5: Reaching Sexual Maturity
Eventually, Barnacle produces an army of baby barnacles. In vast numbers, they are able to be truly mischievous and together, they attach themselves to the underside of a boat.
